Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Wisconsin Wildlife
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Based in large part on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, free-ranging wildlife has always been considered a public trust resource and not a marketable commodity. While there are many merits to this model, it is extremely difficult to economically value wildlife when necessary. This study will conduct a preliminary assessment of the economic value of free-ranging wildlife resources in the United States. Among the metrics we may summarize are levels of participation, direct expenditures, indirect economic benefits, and expenditures for management of the wildlife within the United States. Our goal is to provide a basic summary of the economic importance of wildlife resources for use in policy and management decisions.